928-523-8387 
Current Students
Northern Arizona University is named an Arizona Veteran Supportive Campus and is among the best Military-friendly colleges. The number of NAU students receiving veteran education benefits increases each year, and we are dedicated to serving our students quickly and efficiently.
Payment Process for Your G.I. Bill® Benefits By Chapter
All students are responsible for their bill regardless of VA Education benefits. Please see specific chapter sections for more information about the process and responsibilities.
Students utilizing the G.I. Bill ® must submit their class schedule every semester for VA Certification (payment).
Submitting Class Schedule for VA Certification
The Veteran Success Center at NAU will review the student’s registration to verify if the classes a student takes apply toward the student’s graduation requirements. If a class cannot be approved, the student is then responsible for the associated tuition and fees for the class(es).
If a student is responsible for paying their bill themselves, they may want to consider a NAU Vet Payment Plan, please contact our office for more information.
NAU Important Dates & Deadlines
Chapter 30 Students are responsible for paying their bill.
Chapter 30 students will receive a monthly stipend from the VA paid directly to them.
Chapter 30 students must verify their attendance at the end of each month, more information can be found on the VA’s webpage.
Chapter 31 Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E) students’ bills will be under a 3rd party billing contract once certified by the VMS to the VA; however, students cannot be certified until the VR&E counselor submits a purchase order authorization to NAU. If you need a parking permit for the Flagstaff Mountain campus, students must purchase the parking permit online only. This is so it can be billed for the student with the tuition and fees.
University Transit Services – Parking Permit
Your VR&E counselor will submit a separate authorization to the bookstore for books and authorized supplies. Please make sure you have the purchase order number so that you can present it to the NAU Bookstore.
NAU Facility Code: 11906103
NAU Tax ID: 74-2579628
The VR&E counselor is the main POC for questions regarding housing allowance, books and supplies, or anything else VR&E authorized for a student.
When using the Post-9/11G.I. Bill ® VA Education benefit as the Veteran or Transfer of Eligibility (TOE), the NAU Veteran Success Center will put the student on the Veteran Pay Plan once the students schedule is submitted for certification. This will defer the student’s tuition and fees (only) till a later date in the semester for VA payment. Please keep in mind the Veteran Pay Plan will always defer students at a 100% rating regardless if your rating is below 100%. For those students less than 100% you will be responsible for the unpaid percentage of your tuition and fees near the end of the semester.
The scheduled adjustment period is from the first day to the 2nd week of classes. The VSC does not invoice the VA for tuition and fees until after the second week of classes. During this time students may make changes to registration, please review the registration changes section and contact the NAU Veteran Success Center if there are questions.
The book stipend is the first payment a student should receive, which is based on the number of credits a student is registered for, but will not exceed $1000 a year, and is paid directly to the student.
The VA pays the housing allowance directly to the student, and the VA pays the housing allowance in rears (e.g. for the month of January they pay on February 1st). The VA will pay a pro-rated amount if the student attended fewer days than the total month. (e.g. January 1st – 15th will only receive 15 days of allowance).
- If the student is all distance they will only receive half the national average for the housing allowance.
- The student is responsible for paying for room and board, meal plan, or any other fees not covered by the VA.
If the student has a scholarship that only applies to tuition and fees it will affect the way the VA contract is applied to the student’s account. Tuition “only” scholarships must be applied to the students account first, then the VA will cover the remainder balance. Please contact the NAU Veteran Success Center to discuss.
Chapter 33 students must verify their attendance at the end of each month, more information can be found on the VA’s webpage.
The Yellow Ribbon program is the same as the Post-9/11G.I. Bill ® for payment processing. This is for student’s that are showing out-of-state status and have out-of-state tuition.
Yellow Ribbon Program Eligibility
The Yellow Ribbon program is only for students that are rated at 100% – Post-9/11G.I. Bill ®. Please refer to your VA Certificate of Eligibility for proof of Yellow Ribbon status.
The Yellow Ribbon is applied to all students who are eligible and only when it is needed, regardless of the student’s program.
Chapter 35 Students are responsible for paying their bill.
Chapter 35 students will receive a monthly stipend from the VA paid directly to them.
Chapter 35 students must verify their attendance at the end of each month, more information can be found on the VA’s webpage.
Chapter 1606 Students are responsible for paying their bill.
Chapter 1606 students will receive a monthly stipend from the VA paid directly to them.
Chapter 1606 students must verify their attendance at the end of each month, more information can be found on the VA’s webpage.
Tuition Assistance (TA)
All students utilizing DODTA must receive approval prior to using tuition assistance from your education services officer (ESO), military counsel, or service prior to each enrollment. Please click on the service branch portals provided on this website for more information. This must be completed prior to the first day of class or tuition assistance will not be approved by the Department of Defense. Please email the approved tuition assistance (TA) authorization form to:
Tuition Assistance (TA) Pay Plan Reminder:
Students utilizing Tuition Assistance (TA) are strongly encouraged to enroll in the TA Pay Plan to avoid late fees and maintain good financial standing.
As the term approaches, additional charges such as the Academic College Fee and the VMS Fee and other fees may be applied to your account. To proceed with enrollment in the TA Pay Plan, you must first review your account and pay any current outstanding fees.
Once your balance has been resolved, please notify the Veteran and Military Services office. You will then receive a step-by-step PDF guide to complete your enrollment in the TA Pay Plan.
The following are some important NAU policies that are components of our memorandum of understanding MOU with the DOD.
Service member enrollments
Per DOD MOU, Northern Arizona University refrains from providing any commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on securing enrollments or federal financial aid (including tuition assistance funds) to any persons or entities engaged in any student recruiting, admission activities, or making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance.
Service member recruitment
Per DOD MOU, Northern Arizona University refrains from high-pressure recruitment tactics such as making multiple unsolicited contacts (3 or more), including contacts by phone, email, or in-person, and engaging in same-day recruitment and registration for the purpose of securing service member enrollments.
Cohort default rate (CDR policy)
Per DOD MOU, Northern Arizona University will provide service members access to an institutional financial aid advisor who will make available appropriate loan counseling, including disclosing the educational institution’s student loan cohort default rate (CDR), the percentage of its students who borrow, and how its CDR compares to the national average. If the educational institution’s CDR is greater than the national average CDR, Northern Arizona University will disclose that information and provide the service member with loan repayment data.
Return policy
Return of unearned tuition assistance policy: Military tuition assistance (TA) is awarded to a service member under the assumption the service member will attend classes for the entire period for which the TA is awarded. Eligibility for TA is class specific. Please review our policy and accompanying table for information regarding your financial liability in the event of a course withdrawal.
Military readmission policy
Our military-connected students fall under the purview of the university-wide re-admission policy in that the nuances and challenges that our students face due to military obligations are addressed through departmental resources and procedures to best support our students. Specific support and resources have been built out within the Department of Veteran and Military Services that include but are not limited to the following:
Northern Arizona University
Department of Veteran and Military Services
928-523-VETS (8387)
vets@nau.edu
Leaving for military obligations:
- a specific POC that will assist the student navigate withdrawing from the university
- assist with connecting the student with academic advising to map out degree completion upon return
- contact the Office of Student and Departmental Accounts to remove any charges accrued due to the deployment
- discuss with the student the best course of action, whether that be a military institutional excuse, a formal request for incompletes, or an administrative withdrawal
- assist the student with any forms to withdraw from the university
Returning after military obligations:
- serve as the main contact for the student to connect with their academic department and academic advisor to review the next steps to take to completer their degree
- assist with any funding questions with education benefits or financial aid
- share academic support resources with the student to assist with the transition back to school
- serve as a point of contact for any student-specific nuances that may arise in the transition back to the university
NAU admissions: Applying for readmission
Military institutional excuse form
A military institutional excuse is granted to a student to participate in military events/drills based on official military orders. This also covers medical appointments with the Department of Veterans Affairs, including treatment and referrals to non-VA facilities. Please visit the military institutional excuse website to submit your request.
Northern Arizona University – Tuition and fees
For a full breakdown of NAU’s tuition and fees, please visit the Student and Departmental Account Services website.
Financial aid representative
Esther V. Cuellar, M.Ed., has over 16 years of financial aid, scholarships, and supervisory experience. Background includes ten years in financial aid and eight years in scholarships within Arizona’s university systems. Esther’s strong points include counseling students about financial aid eligibility, application procedures, other aid programs, costs, indebtedness, money management, and financial planning. Esther has been a long-term member of the AASFAA and NASFAA organizations. Both organizations are committed to educating financial aid advisors on state and federal regulations.
Brant Ziemba
Assistant Director, Scholarships
Brant.Ziemba@nau.edu| 928-523-5048
PO Box 4108, Flagstaff, AZ 86011
GI Bill – College financing plan
The college financing plan is a brief summary of the different chapters of VA benefits. It is designed to provide a comparison between the different chapters of benefits.
Changes to Class Schedule
If a student is already full-time, the University does not charge extra tuition above full-time. Unless you are an online student registered as an out-of-state resident.
For more information on the University’s policy and procedure refer to the Registrar’s Website.
Refer to the Registrar’s dates and deadlines calendar to verify significant dates.
Adding a class will not negatively impact your VA Education benefits.
Please resubmit your classes through the certification process. If for some reason the system will not allow you, please contact the NAU Veteran Success Center.
If you drop a class before the first day or during the scheduled add / drop period, there should be no debt for the class; however, if you receive a refund for a dropped class, you may incur a debt. A book stipend debt can also accrue for those utilizing the Post-9/11G.I. Bill ®.
If you withdraw from a class(es) after the scheduled add / drop period and drop below full-time, expect to incur a debt, we will report your Last Day of Attendance to the VA which will start the debt process.
- This debt may include housing allowance and book stipend.
If a class is required for a program or is a General Education requirement and requires a letter grade for the class to apply toward graduation requirements, and a student changes that class to a credit/no credit option the class may no longer be approved (contact us before changing the grading method to verify).
The NAU VMS will report an unapproved change to the VA as a drop and the student may receive a debt.
If a student is going to withdraw before the start of the semester or during the scheduled add / drop period and has already submitted the class(es) certification, contact us to help avoid overpayments.
- Any payments from the VA will be owed back when withdrawn.
If a student withdraws after the scheduled add / drop period the student will incur a debt based on the last date of attendance.
If a student has submitted the class certification and later decides they do not want to use benefits for that semester, then please contact the NAU VMS office as soon as possible to avoid creating a debt.
Using VA Benefits at other Universities / Colleges
Students can use VA Education Benefits at an approved location at either another school in the United States or another country. Communication is key when using VA Education benefits at another school while attending NAU.
For assistance please contact us to coordinate a study away opportunity.
Concurrent Enrollment Form
Veteran education benefits – Concurrent/supplemental enrollment form (VA Form 315)
Before you can receive veteran education benefits at NAU for courses taken at a concurrent institution, your NAU college/department must verify that they will give full credit for the courses you wish to take and that those courses will apply to your degree program.
Once complete, NAU will submit this form to your concurrent institution.
To request the form, you will need to email your Name, Student ID, Chapter Benefit, Major, Advisor, the secondary institution and the course number/title of the class you are taking at the other school. Please email this information to: military@nau.edu
If you have any questions please call 928-523-0097
Important notes:
- If you change your courses at the concurrent institution, a new Concurrent Enrollment form is required.
- You are responsible for transferring the courses to NAU as soon as possible. Upon successful completion of these courses, NAU will grant full credit towards your degree program.
Study Abroad is for students who want to study in a foreign country. For more information and to apply for a study abroad program please visit NAU’s Study Abroad Office.
Answers to the questions for the Study Abroad program while using VA Benefits:
- NAU instructor-led programs are best suited for students utilizing VA Benefits.
- VA Educational Benefits do not pay for 3rd parties.
- All courses must count towards the student’s degree plan.
- VA Educational Benefits do not cover outside fees associated with Study Abroad, such as airfare, 3rd party charges and supplemental housing.
- If the student is planning on attending another educational institution abroad, the institution must be G.I. Bill®
approved: Approved Institutions - To request the form, you will need to email your Name, Student ID, Chapter Benefit, Major, Advisor, the secondary institution and the course number/title of the class you are taking at the other school. Please email this information to: military@nau.edu If you have any questions please call 928-523-0097
Please contact our office for more information
Veteran and Military Scholarships
In recognition of the tremendous sacrifices made by our veterans and military students, Northern Arizona University offers a range of scholarships to help offset the costs of pursuing a college education. The decision to pursue higher education is an important one, and NAU is committed to ensuring that financial need does not prevent those who have already given so much to our country from reaching their academic goals.
Find the right scholarship to support your education
Our veteran and military scholarships aim to not only provide much-needed financial aid but to also recognize the hard work and dedication of those who have served our country.
Apply for the scholarships described below through the NAU ScholarshipUniverse or through the NAU Foundation application.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
- The Major General Earl and Nadia Matthews Military Spouse Scholarship
- Recently developed to support spouses of currently deployed service members, war veterans, and active duty service members. It was established in the spring of 2018.
- J. Gordon McKenzie Scholarship
- Developed to support veterans who served overseas and are involved on campus and/or in the community. Covers general expenses in pursuing a degree.
- John Joyce Scholarship
- Half of this scholarship is disbursed for the fall semester and half for the spring semester.
- The criteria for selection include the following requirements and considerations:
- Must be a military veteran student, and preference will be given to students who are Marine Corps Veterans.
- Joseph F. and Corinne J. Dox Scholarship
- Established by Joseph F. and Corinne J. Dox. It is awarded to business undergraduate students honorably discharged from military service.
- Ray Sparks Scholarship for Veteran Business Students
- Established by Karen Sparks in honor of her husband Ray Sparks. Mr. Sparks retired after 40 years as a business educator at Pima Community College and is a proud veteran and advocate for higher education. Mrs. Sparks honors his dedication to veteran causes and higher education with this scholarship.
- CMC Louis C. Bozeman Scholarship
- CMC Louis C. Bozeman, USN, ret., proudly served his country for 39 years. During his retirement years, he helped many veterans in his community obtain their post-military benefits. This scholarship is our way of continuing his commitment to veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
Pre-Enlistment Scholarships
Army
Depending on your specialty, scholarships, financial aid, and student loan, repayment programs are available to those interested in performing their chosen career full-time in the Army or part-time in the Army Reserve. The service commitment varies depending on the program and the amount of assistance received but can be as little as two years and seldom exceeds four years.
Because the filing periods and qualifications vary, those interested are encouraged to speak with an Army healthcare career counselor to determine if they are eligible and when their application period is. To find the station nearest you, visit the GoArmy Medical Scholarships Website.
External Scholarships
SMART
Science Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART)
The SMART Scholarship-for-Service program was established as a concentrated effort to enhance the Department of Defense (DoD) workforce with talented, innovative, and brilliant scientists, engineers, and researchers. For over a decade, SMART scholars have been working within labs and agencies of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and DoD to make an impact to secure our nation.
SMART Scholars enter the program to pursue their education in some of the leading STEM fields currently in high demand by the United States government. The program offers scholarships for bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD students pursuing STEM. While in school, students will receive full tuition, monthly stipends, health insurance, and book allowances, as well as summer internships that range from eight to twelve weeks. Upon degree completion, scholars begin working in a civilian position with their sponsoring facility. The internships and work experience allow scholars the opportunity to learn from the greatest minds in STEM and defense. Not only do scholars pursue their passions in their respective fields during their educational phase, but they begin a journey toward an empowering career to protect national security.
Military Affiliated Families Scholarships
The American Legion Legacy Scholarship
MG James Ursano Scholarship Program for Army Children
Heroes’ Legacy Scholarship Program
Purple Heart Scholarship Program
The Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund
ThanksUSA Scholarship
Graduating Students
During the semester you are graduating it is often the case that a student does not have enough classes which can be certified to the VA to be able to get to full-time.
The VA is aware of this and has the option to round out or pad, but it is only allowed once per degree.
If you are graduating and need more credits to reach full-time status, please make sure you choose the optional classes you did not take first in your degree plan. If you do not or no longer have optional classes on your degree plan, only then can you take classes outside your degree plan.
You may only take classes to get you up to full-time, contact us if you have questions.
Veterans, are you getting ready to walk for graduation? If so, please contact us to pick up your stole to signify your military service as a NAU graduate.
You do not have to be using VA educational benefits to wear Veteran and Military Services Stole.
If you are not currently using VA educational benefits, please bring in proof of service when picking up your stole.